Signs it time for a breaker box replacement

circuit breaker

Your electrical panel is a key component to help distribute electricity throughout your home. It comes built-in with a failsafe if too much electricity is trying to get distributed, such as an electricity spike. That’s what those circuit breakers in your electrical panel are for, and they help to cut electrical distribution in that specific area. That’s why it’s important to know when it may be time to upgrade and replace your electrical panel to keep your home safe.

It has odors indicating something may be burning

The last thing you want with your electrical panel is to have it be warm when touched or have it smell like something is burning on the inside. Those could be the first warning signs of an electrical panel issue. The type of burning smell, whether wood or plastic, can help narrow down the source, but it’s always better to reach out to a qualified electrician who can resolve the situation faster.

It’s reached its end of life

Your electrical panel typically has a lifespan that ranges between 25 years and 40 years. But, of course, with proper maintenance on your electrical panel, it’s more likely to be closer to 40 years. After that, it’s simply time for a replacement and an upgrade to ensure the functionality is working. This can easily be noticed during the annual maintenance checkup of your home’s electrical panel and other components.

Your lights are flickering

While this could signify that it’s time to replace the lightbulb or use better quality ones, it can also tell you that the underlying reason is the electrical panel itself. If you notice your lights are constantly flickering or are dim or flickering when you turn on other appliances, this is a major red flag that the electrical distribution is off.

You find yourself with breakers tripping all the time

Another area to consider is if the minute you start to use electricity, whether to turn on the lights or power on major appliances, the breakers themselves trip. The reason for this could be an old electrical panel. However, there could also be a faulty issue, such as the electrical panel not functioning properly or it’s working too hard, and thus it’s best to have a circuit panel replacement.

You might be preparing for a renovation

Renovations are always a great time to consider many other aspects of your house that could be upgraded, such as circuit panel replacement. You can take the time to replace the wiring and connections where necessary and get yourself a much more efficient option for the electrical panels.

In the end

No matter what, if you feel like anything above is happening to you, or your electrical panel seems to be not fully functional, it’s always best to get a highly reviewed electrician to come in and look. If they recommend a circuit panel replacement, then go for it, as you will be better off. You’ll be saving yourself a bunch of time and money and have professionals handle it safely and securely.

Top 7 Tips to keep your home generator ready when you need it

Not many people remember to maintain their home generator.  As a result the home generator may not work when needed because it was not properly maintained.  Like any other appliance, your home genrator must be checked frequently and repaired when needed.

We all think it’s not going to happen to us. However, even the most stable areas have power outages. And the next one may be just when you need electricity the most. The best solution? A working home generator.

But how you maintain one properly? Below are 7 great recommendations on the topic.

1. Test Your Generator Regularly

Even when you don’t need it, test the appliance. This should become a routine check to see if there are any areas that need more attention in further maintenance or repair. There’s also a feature in many generators to self-test. If you don’t know whether yours does that, call a technician and ask about it.

2. After Use, Check Oil Levels

After every test and actual use, check if the oil levels are alright. Most modern models don’t use much of it, but it’s still easy to forget to refill. Plus, there may be leaks that need to be fixed for your safety and the proper operation of the appliance.

3.  Enusre that the housing does not block ventilation

Protective housing is important for any generator. However, it doesn’t have to block the air supply or any other part. This may break the appliance or make it operate poorly. Plus, if you want additional coverage to block noise or for another reason, make sure to call an expert and consult with them first.

4. Have Additional Fuel on Hand

Many generators use natural gas to operate, but if your house doesn’t have this kind of fuel, make sure there’s enough gasoline, diesel, etc. to last for a lengthy power outage. In case of a natural disaster, you never know how long electricity will be out.

5. Check the Electrical System Regularly

It’s also important to check how the generator starts to work when an outage occurs. It should be on the automatic mode, when it starts to operate at the moment the main power source turns off.

However, issues may occur that will make the generator work dangerous. If you don’t know how to check the electrical system yourself, it’s better to contact a specialist.

6. Check the Air Filter

You should clean, fix, and/or replace the filter when needed. Make sure there’s a replacement by hand at any moment. If the filter is neglected, the generator may get damaged, which is dangerous for your house.

7. Test Smart Features Frequently

If you have a generator with smart features like smartphone operation, check whether they work regularly. This includes updating applications in time, connecting to the appliance every now and then to test settings, etc.

Check every element and feature of your home generator to make sure that in case of emergency, you’re fully covered. The climate is changing, which gives way to unusual natural disasters in areas where there wasn’t a hurricane in years.

What is Causing Your Flickering Lights?

What is Causing Your Flickering Lights?

If you notice that the lights in your house are suddenly flickering, it might be quite alarming. Most people, since they do not know much about the electrical wiring in their home, do not know what could be causing the flickering, but before you call in a group of ghost hunters, consider some more rational explanations that have to do with the wiring!

One of the common causes of flickering lights in the house is a phenomenon called arcing. This happens when a wire is loose and it doesn’t have full contact with the other wires. The current can arc across the gap, and you will have the flickering effect that you are experiencing. The nature of arcing is very dangerous, and without the proper attention, it can cause a buildup of heat and possibly start an electrical fire. Another possibility is a bad breaker box that could be causing some strange things to happen with your electricity.

Sometimes, the problem is a simple fix. Maybe the light bulb that you have in the lamp or fixture is not connected properly, or it might even need to be changed. If changing the bulb doesn’t change your flickering lights, you are going to have to call in a professional electrician, and you do not want to waste time getting him or her out to your house. The longer you wait the worse and more dangerous the problem can become.

Flickering lights, while they seem as if they are nothing more than a mild annoyance, can have far-reaching and dangerous repercussions. You don’t want to take the safety of you and your family for granted. Call highly trained Atlanta electricians out to your home right away so they can find the source of the electrical problem and make the necessary repairs.

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Recessed Lights are Very Popular and should be installed by Licensed Professionals

Recessed Lights are Very Popular and should be installed by Licensed Professionals

In the past few years, with more people renovating their homes, recessed lighting has surged in popularity. These lights are modern, and they will work well with many different layouts and design schemes. They have a number of benefits that people love. They don’t have any exposed wiring, and they are easy to care for as well. Some of the other names for this type of lighting include can lighting and pot lighting because of the way that the lights fit into the ceiling or wall.

Perhaps the greatest advantage to having these recessed lights is the versatility that they offer. You can use the lights for a focused effect on a small area, or you can use them for the general lighting of an entire room. When you use recessed lights in your home, you will be able to eliminate some of the other types of lighting that you are using now. This can give your home a larger, less cluttered look.

Recessed lighting is able to work in many different rooms of the house as well. You can use the pot lighting in the living room, the kitchen, and the bedrooms. Many people even use the lighting to highlight certain pieces of artwork in their home.

Before you try to figure out all of the different ways that you can use your lighting, you may want to contact professional Atlanta electricians who will be able to help you install them properly. When it comes to dealing with electricity, it is always in your best interest to hire a licensed professional certified in electrical wiring complete the installation.

Those who have ideas for remodeling on their mind will want to check to see if this type of lighting is something that is feasible in their home. It certainly has a number of advantages.

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Are Flickering Lights Giving You Grief?

Are Flickering Lights Giving You Grief?

One of the most common electrical problems around the house is flickering lights. When you first notice that your lights are flickering, you need to check to see if you might have a problem with your light bulbs. It could be that you just need to change the bulb or tighten it. However, this isn’t always such a simple fix. If you notice that more of the lights in the room or around the house are flickering, then you need to call in the help of a licensed electrician.

Make sure that when you are calling an electrician you choose a professional. You don’t want to trust the electrical wiring in your home to someone who doesn’t have plenty of experience. While you may be able to fix some problems around the house and consider yourself handy, the electricity is not something that you want to mess with. You don’t want to run the risk of causing greater damage and possibly even a fire.  Professional, licensed Atlanta electricians will be able to find the underlying cause of the flickering lights and repair the problem.

When you choose your electrician, you have to make sure that the company you choose has a good rating with the Better Business Bureau and that they have experience in the type of electrical help that you need. If you notice that the lights are flickering in your home, make sure that the electrician has an understanding of residential wiring. If it is happening in your business, make sure that the company has electricians who are well versed in commercial electrical wiring. While the concepts may be the same, there are some differences.

Do not ignore the problem of flickering lights in your home. It could be something serious, and you do not want to wait to have a professional Atlanta electrician troubleshoot the electrical wiring.

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Lighting Fixtures-Can Anyone Replace Them?

Lighting Fixtures - Can Anyone Replace Them?

Tired of looking at the ancient chandelier staring down at you from your ceiling? Do you want to upgrade your antiquated lighting fixture after finding them to be not-so-appealing? Replacing lighting fixtures are an integral part of any home improvement project. Many of us contemplate whether these electrical fixtures could be a do-it-yourself (DIY) project or if a licensed Atlanta electrical contractor should do the job.

When looking to replace or upgrade lighting fixtures, a lot of things need to be taken into consideration, such as:

  • The correct size of the lighting fixture so that it is a proper fit and doesn’t come in contact with the cabinets or walls. Also, if you are replacing an existing fixture, you need to take into account the capacity of the present fixture and whether the new fixture will be adaptable to the existing wiring or other electrical parts that you are planning to use.
  • Collect all the essential tools and materials needed to replace the lighting fixture so that you are not left high and dry once you commence with your work. Check that your tools are dry, clean, and free from rust, for good, working tools will make your job safer and easier.
  • Switch off the main power supply before you begin the process of changing a light fixture, as this will prevent the chances of electrical shocks. Always replace lighting fixtures during the daytime, as you would have the advantage of adequate light when you are working with electrical wires that are not energized.
  • Ensure that the area where you are attempting to replace the lighting fixture is dry and clutter free. You may have turned off the power supply, but if you are working with wet hands or there is moisture in the area where you are installing the lighting fixture, then the process becomes risky. Also, a wet area increases the chances of slipping when you are upgrading the fixtures.

Keep these handy tips in mind when replacing lighting fixtures or hire an experienced Atlanta electrician who can help you complete this job easily and economically in the shortest possible time.

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Frayed Electrical Wiring Can Be Hazardous

Frayed Electrical Wiring Can Be Hazardous

The invention of electricity is one of the most important events in the history of mankind. Electricity and modern electrical gadgets have made our life much easier and provide us with more time to indulge in other activities.

While on one hand, we hire Atlanta electrical contractors to add more outlets or upgrade our electrical panel boxes so as to accommodate more electrical equipment, we often don’t take adequate care to ensure that their wirings and cords are in proper order.

We may have our heavy boxes or furniture resting on the cords or sometimes, the electric wiring could run under our carpet and get overheated. For our convenience, we may even use nails or staples to attach the cords to the walls or baseboards. All these activities result in damaged or frayed electrical wiring that needs immediate repair to prevent the occurrence of any fire hazards and electric shocks.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, 6400 electrical fire accidents were caused in the last 5 years due to damaged electrical wiring. In order to protect your loved ones from getting hurt due to electrical mishaps, it is very important that we regularly check home appliances and other electrically powered devices for frayed wires.

Any electronic device in your home should not have visible wires, as bare wires can lead to electric shocks as soon as someone touches it. Frayed wires can also be hazardous even when you are not using an electrical item.

Our first instinct on seeing a frayed wire is to strip the wire and mend it by wrapping it using an electrical tape. In extreme cases, we may just strip the wire and reinsert it into the socket. Both scenarios can prove to be dangerous.

The best way to deal with the problem of a frayed wire is to hire the help of an experienced Atlanta electrical contractor to replace the wiring. Do not attempt to repair the frayed wires yourself, as this can prove to be dangerous. An experienced certified professional can easily detect and fix the problem the very first time.

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Open Wiring Splices in your Attic Are Dangerous

attic wiring

Open Wiring Splices in your Attic Are Dangerous

Crawl spaces and attics in our homes are dark and damp places which often become the permanent address for pests and rodents. The idea of paying a visit to these places is not thrilling, but as many good Atlanta electrical contractors would be quick to point out, the majority of electrical problems in many homes have their origin in these spaces.attic wiring

Electrical problems commonly surface after a remodeling project, so if you have taken advantage of the new government policy on tax benefits on home remodeling and have been experiencing electrical problems ever since, now is the time to pick up a flashlight and examine your neglected attics, for there is a good chance that your electrical system may be affected.

Inexperienced electricians often splice or cut electrical lines and will make splices without even using a junction box and cover. They think that no one will ever crawl into these spaces and know what they have left behind. As a result, these improper connections will lay exposed in attics and can cause a lot of problems. Open wire splices found in your home attic during the inspection could add a further dent to your bank accounts.

If the term ‘open wiring splice’ sounds Greek to you, then in simple terms, a splice is a connection that is made between two wires. Splices are usually made using small plastic devices that look like a thimble and are known as wire nuts. These splices are twisted onto the electrical wires for making a secure connection.

As per the national electrical codes, these splices should be placed inside a covered electric box made of plastic or metal. Wires should be placed inside a covered box because if the connecting wires become overloaded or loose, they can get heated and cause sparks. If you allow these wires to stay in the open, the sparks could cause a fire.

Open wiring splices are a recipe for disaster and should be corrected immediately after the problem has been discovered. If your attic has open wiring splices then contact an experienced electrical contractor in Atlanta to quickly rectify the problem.

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How Important Is It for My House to Be Grounded

How Important Is It for My House to Be Grounded?

An electric fire can strike anytime; what is the best thing I can do?

Make sure your home is electrically grounded is the first thing you should do.

According to the National Fire Protection Agency, electric fires have been the leading cause of property damages and fire-related casualties in Atlanta for the last 5 years.  They further claim that most of these accidents could have been easily avoided if the homes were grounded.

We all grew up hearing the adage “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”.  Hiring the services of an Atlanta electrical contractor to get your home grounded is the best thing you can do to keep your family and home appliances safe. To ensure fail-proof protection, one must ensure that all the 240 Volts and 120 Volts electrical circuits in the home are properly grounded.

If you are staying in a home in Atlanta that was constructed about 2 decades ago, then in all probability, the electrical outlets wouldn’t be having a third slot for a grounding prong. In modern appliances as well as electric outlets, there is a provision for a ground wire so that whenever there is a voltage surge or fluctuation, the excessive current is directed toward the ground and not through you. This will reduce the chances of electric fires and electric shocks.

Though electrical grounding is not mandatory for older homes according to the latest codes, getting them updated could provide you with benefits such as:

  • Protection from overvoltage, especially during line surges or thunderstorms, as this is the time when a high current flows through the electric wires, which can prove to be dangerous.
  • Save your family and your expensive electronic equipment by stabilizing the voltage and making the excessive current flow through the earth.

Most of the new homes electric circuits are properly grounded, but if you are staying in an old home and want to get your home grounded to the latest codes without the headaches of expensive rewiring, get the expertise of the electrical contractors in Atlanta and install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters.

Ensure that the electrician you hire follows all the National Electric Code Guidelines when completing electrical grounding in your home, as this will also help you pass your home inspection with flying colors.

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Upgrade That Knob and Tube Wiring

Upgrade That Knob and Tube Wiring

Moving into a vintage home in Atlanta is like a dream come true. We spend the better half of our lives in the air-conditioned chambers of high-rises in Atlanta, so, retreating back into a sprawling bungalow is indeed welcoming.

Along with the old world charm, these decade-old buildings also come with some inherent problems, most of which are related to electrical wiring. We are always consulting an Atlanta electrical contractor whenever there are frequent fuses that blow, or if some of the electrical equipment doesn’t work properly.

The scariest part is probably the old wiring that runs through the ceramic tube of the floor joists or wall studs. This wiring is called knob and tube wiring, and if the wiring is not tampered with, it is safe. However, you will have to try every trick in the book to convince the home insurance companies to write a new policy for your home if it has this type of electrical system.

If you stay in a house that is already insured, you just need to hire an Atlanta electrician to evaluate your existing electrical system and make the much-needed repairs. However, if you are planning to buy the home, you have no option but to upgrade that knob and tube wiring.

Knob and tube wiring was introduced in the 1950s and is still perfectly capable of carrying current in your home. Besides affecting your home’s insurance policy, you should think about upgrading that knob and tube wiring when:

  • The ceramic insulation on the wire has become brittle due to its inability to handle high temperature and voltage as found in modern appliances.
  • You notice the presence of splices in the existing wiring that can cause various safety hazards
  • You want to make use of modern electrical outlets, as this ancient wiring is not a grounded system

Upgrading this type of wire is not a Do-it-yourself (DIY) project, and you will need to hire the services of experienced electrical contractors in Atlanta to replace the outdated wiring system. If there are only a few knobs and tubes, then replacing the circuit won’t burn a big hole in your pocket. However, things can surely be expensive if you need to upgrade the electrical wiring of the entire home.

The safety of your family members and properly working electrical equipment make upgrading the knob and tube wiring money well spent.

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